Clysterizing apparatus



C. W. CHENEY CLYSTERIZING APPARATUS June 5, 1928.

Filed Aug. 13, 1927 Patented June 5, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I cHnRLEs'w. CHE E 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS;

CLYSTERIZING AIPPABATUS.

Application filed August 13, 1927. SerialNo. 212,793.

This invention pertains to proctotherapy and more particularly to clysterizing apparatus. In accordance with certain systems of diagnosis and treatment now practiced it is necessaryto employ clysterizing apparatus designed to permit withdrawal of the irrigating fluid used in etfectingthe evacuation together with the contents of the colon through the clystcr or enema tube,employing suction or vacuum to effect the desired result. Y

Apparatus of the above classfrequently comprises elevated receptacles adapted to hold enema, antiseptic, or bacterial culture solutions, etc., and these receptacles communicate by means of pipes of proper length and diameter with the colon tube and the dclive ryor suction tube,-one or more valves bein provided for controlling the flow of the VaIlOuS'flLilClS.

In order to obtain the desired pressure,

. the fluid receptacle is elevated to a considerable height and there is thus a long run of pipe'between each fluid receptacle'and the colon tube. opened, the air entrapped in the connecting pipe as well as in any intermediate valve connections or fittings is forced into the able to escape through the clogged or con-" colon tube ahead of the fluid. In certain systems of treatment a long colon tITbB lS used which is adapted to reach as far as; the caecum, and the irritation produced by such a long colon tube often causes marked peristaltic actionbf the colon which may become quite violent when the irrigating fluid is discharged from the end of the tube. In certain pathological conditions of the colon, the colonic canal becon'ies'very much constricteil at points, as for example by abnormally sharp flexures of the colon, accretions upon its inner wall, the abnormal pres sure of other organs, etc. and when the colon tube is passed through such a constricted portion, little if any of the normal passage remains unfilled. body of air .in the pipes and connections is now expelled into the upper colon it is unstricted canal and under these conditions the violent peristaltic action often causes ex treme pain tothe patient. At times the spasmodic constriction of the colon which results from the above conditions may become so prolonged and powerful'as to collapse the colon tube and even to prevent its When the controlling valve is be used. WVhen the relatively large immediate withdrawal, and thus the patient is obliged to .remain'in great pain until relaxation of the colon from muscular fatigue permits withdrawal of the irrigating fluid and tube.

In accordancewith my present invention I provide means for venting air or gas from the colon tube during the introduction of the latter and from the pipe connections when the .fiuid begins to flow; toward the colon, and I thus avoida former cause of the specific apparatus here illustrated.

In the drawings: v i Fig. 1 isasideelevation, partly in sectron and partly broken away, illustrating bodied therein myimproved venting means; Fig. 2 is a side elevation,.to larger scale, partly in section, showing a connector device employed in'theapparatus of :Fig. 1, and

Figs. 3 and l: areside elevations, to smaller scale, showing connector devices of'moditi ed construction.- a

The numeral 1 designates a suitable supportof any desired kind, such for example as a shelf attached to the wall or carried by. ad ustable means for varying its height, or an'elcvated table or stand top. This support, of 'whatevernature, is preferably provided with a plurality of openings according to the-number of fluid receptacles to In these openings are set the receptacles 2, 3, 4 etc. for holding fluid of the desired character, for example a saline or alkaline irrigating or enema fluid, an antiseptic solution, a solution of bacterial cul- -ture, or in fact any desired liquid to be employed in the treatment.

My improved apparatus preferably comprises a manifold or header 5, preferably of elongate tubular form and havingspaced controlling valves '6 and 7 adjacent to its opposite ends. This header 5 is also pro- .more or less diagrammatically my improved form of clyster zlng apparatus, having eminithesurgical or allied arts and'for-ms no part oi my present invention. Such a tube is illustrated for example in, the Stohlman Patent No. 840,739, April 27,

vided, in the space between ,the valves '6 and 7, with a plurality oi valved nipples 8, 9 and 10 corresponding in. number to the fluid receptacles Pipes 11, 12 and 13 lead from the bottoms of the receptacles 2, 3 and lto the valvednipples 8, 9 and 110 respectively for conveying the contents of the respective receptacles to the header orananiffold 5.

One end 14% of the header 5 is adapted to receiveza suction or .delivery tu=be15 which extends to any suitable point of delivery,

qsuch 'i'or example as the receptacle 16 or a drain. The opposite end 1117 of the header 5 receives a tube 18 which is secured. to one branch 19 of a T-connection 20. Preferably this T-conncction 20 is transparent, being inadeior example. 01 gla-ss,-and the'branc'h 21' of this T-connection which is in alignment with thevbranch 19 receives one end.

of a colon tube. This colon tubeis flexible and terminates in a rounded, conical end 23 provided with one or more delivery openings .24 and 25. This type .ottube is wellk-nown Preferably the T-conneetion comprises an enlargement 30 .providingan air separating chamber with which the bores of the several brancheslt), 21 and 26co1nmun1cate. If the T connections be of glass, this enlargement may be made by blowing a bulb of suitable size integral with the branches, but whether of glass or other material, theenlargement 3 may, if desired, consist of an independent receptacle of any suitablematerial or size to which the branches are suitably attached. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this enlargement is of bulbous or spherical form, but in Fig.-

3 I have shown the T-connection having an enlargement 30 of generally conical iorm; while in Fig. 4 I have shown the T- connection as devoid of such enlargement. While as shown in Fig. 4 the connecting member may be without the-enlargement, I prefer toprovide' a chamber of relatively large capacity at the junction o't'the several branches of the T-connection, since such a chambertends to break up the continuity of the fluid flow and helps to 'separateany air inthe formo'f bubblesentrained in thefluid, thus permitting such air to rise freely through the vent tube 27.

the T -connection and, therefrom.

In the operation ot the .device, the several receptacles are ,PIOVlGlGCl with -the {desired .flllidathe valves 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 being closed andthe pipe 15 ntending to a suitable receptacleor drain. Thecolon tube 22 is now inserted ,to a distance depending upon the 7 type of treatment to be employed and during such insertionentrapped air or gas may freely escape through the open vent 27, al

though at this time'the several valves 1 6,3, 8,

9 and 10 are closed. v H

The valve '6 isnow opened ;-and ione oi'the valves 8, 9 or 10 is'also opened topermit the I fluid from the corresponding receptacle ;,to

pass into the header 5, and ythenoe into the ,colontube. Upon opening such yalve .8,;9-,or 10,mthe air entrapped inthe correspond ng pipe 11, 12 and 13, as wellas in the header 5, is forced forwardly and escapes through I the vent tube 27, so that it is not driven-into the colon tube, while the chamber within the enlargement 3'0 brea gks up theieontinuity of the flow oat fluid so-thatiany entrapped in the latter is separated and m-ayieseape throughv the vent. The trea m nt is now carried out in the usr'ialmanner'by manipu lation of the valves 8, 9 and lOand the valves "6 and 7, and during the treatment thefifilfQfB- 1y open tube 27 constitutes what niay 'be' termed a safety valve to prevent undue rise oi p rossure in l the system, thus-safeguarding the patient from injury-.ordiscomfort WVhene-ver the colon tube istobe drained, the vent tube 27 may be closed by'means'of a valve 29, or otherwise,sothat itwill notinteri ere with the desired; suction thronghgthe header 5 and the colon tube-:2. By-making ithe T-connection 20 transparent is possible to observe the condition of the fl i;1 i il;pass-v ing through the system, and thus'to determine the pro 'ress of the treatment and the completion ot the drainage of the {colon and colon tube. a

While I have herein illustrated one desirable arrangement of parts, I wishitto'jbe understood that the inVention is-not to he "limited by the specificillustration o f-apparatus herein shown, but that various changes in arrangement of parts may be made With.- out'departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim: 1

1. \Clysterizing apparatus coniprisingan elevated receptacle forfluid, a -Trconnection havinga central portion providing a relatively large air 2 separating chamber and branches havingrel'atively small boresleading from said chamber, aconduitgleading from the receptacle to one branch oftfhe T- connection, a colon tube communicating with another .bra-nch of the v T connection, Y and a vent tube attached to the third branch of l ading p ard y 2. Clysterizing apparatus comprising a plurality of elevated fluid receptacles, an elongate tubular header provided with a each receptacle to a point in-the header ina T-connection having one branch connected to one end of the header, a colon tube'connected to another branch of the T-connection, and air vent means connected to the pair of spaced valves, a pipe leading from third branch of the T-connection.

Signed by termecliate said valves, a valve for each pipe, this 12th day of August, 1927,

me at Boston, Massachusetts,

CHARLES W. CHENEY. 

